Religion almanac

Religion Almanac, a roundup of local religious events open to the public, is published weekly in Faith & Values. Deadline for news releases is noon Monday for the Saturday edition. Send them to Faith & Values, Bradenton Herald, 11121 S.R. 70 E., Bradenton, FL 34202, fax them to 751-3384 or e-mail to jajones1@bradenton.com. Service times are listed separately in the church directory; support groups are listed Tuesdays in Health & Fitness; club meetings are published Fridays in the Neighbors section. The list of ongoing events runs in alphabetical order by name of church or group, in rotation, as space permits.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Yard sale: with a selection of home foods, toys, tool and more will be held 8 a.m.-2 p.m. April 18 at St. Jude’s Catholic Church, 3930 17th St., Sarasota.

Sunday celebration: Center for Positive Living will have a Sunday celebration at 10:15 a.m. April 19 at the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center, 709 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, with music director Rob Sator and the CPL Chorus. Information: 366-0275.

Earth Day service: Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 322 15th St. W., Bradenton, will have a service at 10:30 a.m. April 19, on the topic of Earth Day, “Thoreau’s Nature — Our Response.” Information: 746-0067.

New member classes: at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 3131 61st St., Sarasota, will be held at 10:15 a.m. April 19 and April 26. Tuesday Bible study will begin again 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. April 21-May 31.Information: 355-4729.

Passover Seder: The annual communal Passover Seder in Lakewood Ranch will be held 8 p.m. April 19 at the Chabad Jewish Center, 11509 Palmbrush Trail, Lakewood Ranch. The theme of the Seder will be Experiencing Freedom in Tough Times. Cost: $45 per adult. Information: 752-3030.

Holocaust Remembrance Day Yom Hashoah: will be held 7:30 p.m. April 20 at Temple Beth El, 4200 32nd St. W., Bradenton, in cooperation with the Sarasota-Manatee Synagogue Council and the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Federation. Information: 755-4900.

Community prayer meeting: to pray for the economy will be held 7:30 p.m. April 20 at the Renaissance Center, 1816 Ninth St. W., Bradenton, with guest speaker Ron Ballard, Christian Science practitioner, on the topic of “Prayer: Practical Solutions in Economic hard times.”

Ladies Lunch and Learn: The monthly Ladies Lunch and Learn series led by Chanie Bukiet, will be held noon-1 p.m. April 21 at Chabad of Bradenton, Suite 101, 11509 Palmbrush Trail, Lakewood Ranch. Reservations and information: 752-3030.

Guest speaker: Temple Beth El, 4200 32nd St. W., Bradenton, will continue its series of “A Night with a Rabbi,” 7:30 p.m. April 23 with guest speaker Rabbi Herbert Rose, who will discuss the book “Defending Identity,” by Natan Sharansky. Information: 755-4900.

Community parade party: 5:30-7:30 p.m. April 25 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 3200 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, with free food, games and prime seating to view the parade, Information: 224-6936.

Spring fundraiser fashion show and luncheon: presented by Saint Clare of Assisi Women’s Guild, of Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Community, will be held 11 a.m. April 25 at Palm-Aire Country Club, 5601 Country Club Way, Palm-Aire. Cost: $35. Information and reservations: 907-0425.

“Night with the Stars” prom: Faith Christian Church will host an evening of excitement, games, music and dancing 7-9:30 p.m. May 1, for Manatee County special needs residents ages 16 and older. The prom, titled “Night with the Stars,” will extend free invitations to special needs programs in seven area high schools as well as several local organizations serving special needs residents. The church hopes local businesses and volunteers will help provide participants with formal attire and salon services prior to the event, and snacks and photography on the night of the event. For more information contact Sr. Pastor Scott Clark at (941) 746-5711, ext. 200.

Spring Fling: sponsored by the Bridge of Hope of Manatee County, Inc., will be held 5:30 p.m. May 16 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 3200 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton. Cost: $25. Information: 748-3421.

Trip to see the Rays: Join Northminster, 3131 61st St., Sarasota, for a trip to see the Rays vs. Minnesota Twins at Tropicana Field, 11:30 a.m. May 31. Cost: $23. Reservations and information: 928-6106. Bible Bee registration: open for children ages 7-18 at First Baptist Church of Palmetto, 1020 Fourth St. W., Palmetto. The contest will be held Sept. 12. Cost: $20. Registration: 722-7795, ext. 215.

ONGOING EVENTS

Peace Presbyterian Church: has appointed Pastor Tricia Dillon Thomas as the new Pastor to Youth Family. Services are held 9:30 a.m. at Manatee Community College Center of Technology, 7131 Professional Parkway, Lakewood Ranch. Information: 753-7778.

Stillpoint House of Prayer: Intercessory-prayer workshop groups are now forming at 1608 14th St. W. For schedule, call 748-6835. Contemplative-prayer groups meets at 11 a.m. every Wednesday and Thursday. A Spanish Bible study and prayer and rosary group meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday-Thursday. Information: 748-6835 or 795-0130.

Temple Beth El: Adult Hebrew classes for beginners and intermediates are at 7 p.m. Thursdays, and classes leading to bar/bat mitzvah are at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at 2209 75th St. W., Bradenton. An independent leadership course to assist temple members to become lay leaders also is being conducted at the temple. Students learn to read Hebrew, research and write sermons and learn the order of the service. Students eventually lead services. Sign-up for upcoming classes is now starting. Information: 792-0870.

Vessels Unto Honour Ministries: Vessels Unto Honour Ministries has moved to 3517 15th St. E., Bradenton, Sunday worship service will be held at noon and Life Enrichment service is held 7 p.m. Tuesdays.

Preschool open enrollment: for 2009-10 Lighthouse Kids Preschool is being held at Braden River United Methodist Church, 5858 44th Ave. E., Bradenton. Information: 748-4522.

Bible study: “Fireproof,” a Bible Study for married and unmarried couples, will be held 9:45 a.m. Sundays at Braden River United Methodist Church, 5858 44th Ave. E., Bradenton, led by Rev. John Peavey. Information: 745-1663.

Church of the Trinity: 7225 N. Lockwood Ridge Road, southern Manatee County, has a traditional Sunday service 9:15 a.m. Sundays and a contemporary service with children’s sermon at 11 a.m. Taize Service is held 6 p.m. the second Sunday of each month.

Ellenton United Methodist Church: 3607 U.S. 301 N., Ellenton has an all-you-can eat pancake breakfast 8-10 a.m. the first Saturday of the month. Methodist Men meet 8:30 a.m. the second Wednesday of the month. A potluck dinner is held 5:30 p.m. the last Wednesday of the month. Information: 729-6802.

The Miracle Club No. 1: meets 7-8 p.m. Thursdays in the Chapel Room of the Congregational United Church of Christ, 3700 26th St. W., Bradenton. Information: 730-7079.

First United Church of Christ: presents a six-week interactive journey responding to culture’s objections to Christianity, 10-11 a.m., 7-8 p.m. Thursdays and 9-10 a.m. Sundays. Youth group sessions are available from noon to 2 p.m. Sundays. Information: 723-7516.

Manatee Spiritual Center/Church of Religious Science: 1327 U.S. 301 N., Palmetto, has an ongoing study group on the book “The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment” that meets 10 a.m. alternate Thursdays followed by lunch out and fellowship. Information: 531-3879.

Christ Community Church of Bradenton: The Rev. Paul Alford has assumed the interim pastorate at 1803 57th Ave. W. Services are 10:45 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sundays, and Sunday school is at 9:45 a.m. Information: 755-6162.

“Stillness Within — Learning to Meditate”: American Buddhist nun Gen Kelsang Demo is teaching meditation 12:30–1:30 p.m. Monday at the Zen Zone, San Marco Plaza, 8209 Natures Way, Suite 217, Lakewood Ranch. The class consists of a guided meditation, a short talk and an opportunity for questions and answers. Each talk is part of a series, yet is self-contained. This means participants can drop in at any time. Cost: $10 per class ($5 for students/seniors). For more information, call 373-1600 or e-mail info@MeditationInSarasota.org.

Our Daily Bread/Project 5000: at Living Lord Lutheran Church, 11120 S.R. 70 E., Lakewood Ranch, is collecting grocery bags filled with unbreakable containers to feed local families. Each bag will feed a family of four for two days or a family of two for four days. Information: 753-9365. Also, the Quilters and Crafty Ladies meet 3 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. Information: 794-8350.

Bradenton First Church of the Nazarene: 1616 59th St. W., Bradenton, is offering a Bible study class in Spanish for adults who want their children in an English-speaking church, 10:35 a.m. every Sunday. Bible studies begin 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays after a meal. Information: 794-1685.

“Celebrate Recovery”: A 12-step program for those wanting freedom from addictions meets 6 p.m. Mondays in room 206 of the Family Life Center at Bradenton First Church of the Nazarene, 1616 59th St. W., Bradenton. Information: 794-1685.

First United Methodist Church: 603 11th St. W., Bradenton, has women’s Bible study at 6 p.m. Tuesdays and 9:15 a.m. Fridays. OASIS has resumed at 6 p.m. Wednesdays. A college/career Sunday school class, open to high school graduates, college students and working people, meets at 9:05 a.m. Sundays. Information: 747-4406.

Living Lord Lutheran Church: is forming a Bible study group for all ages to meet from 7-8 p.m. the second and fourth Fridays of every month at 11120 S.R. 70 E. Child care will be available. Information: 753-9365.

n Registration for 2009-2010 All God’s Children day care for church members at Living Lord is open through Dec. 23. Information: 739-2776.

n Living Lord Lutheran Church High School Lunch Bunch meets 12:45 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month at Crispers, 8764 S.R. 70 E., Lakewood Ranch. Information: 753-9365.

The Beyond Sunday Conversation Group: meets 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesday at the Manatee Spiritual Center, 1327 U.S. 301 N., Palmetto.